Covering the Crew

May 30, 2014

Since Gregg Berhalter arrived in Columbus, Crew players have praised the overall positivity of
their coach and sporting director.

That viewpoint was put to the test this week as Berhalter prepared for his first game without
top playmaker Federico Higuain, who will miss Saturday’s game at Toronto FC due to yellow-card
accumulation. The game is one of three the Crew will play in a week before entering Major League
Soccer’s break for the World Cup, and Berhalter said there is a positive in Higuain’s absence.

May 29, 2014

The last time the Crew faced a challenge similar to the one ahead next week, it didn’t go very
well. With a stretch of three games in six days – including two on the road – the Crew suffered
three straight shutout losses and limped out of the final game with a clearly fatigued lineup.

Starting this Saturday, the Crew will play three games in seven days – including two on the
road. This time around, coach Gregg Berhalter
said he will
be more wary of playing essentially the same lineup against Toronto away, Real Salt Lake at
home and D.C. United away.

May 28, 2014

Major League Soccer has released its 2014 all-star ballot, and it includes eight Crew players:
goalkeeper Steve Clark, defenders Giancarlo Gonzalez, Michael Parkhurst and Josh Williams,
midfielders Bernardo Anor and Wil Trapp and forwards Jairo Arrieta and Federico Higuain.

Fans can vote online through July 11 and on Twitter from July 2-6. Portland coach Caleb Porter
will choose the game-day roster and starting lineup for the August 6 game against Bayern Munich,
which will take place at Providence Park.

May 28, 2014

Starting Saturday at Toronto FC, the Crew will play three games in seven days before entering
Major League Soccer’s World Cup break for much of June.

It’s a stretch similar to one the Crew underwent earlier this month, one in which coach Gregg
Berhalter primarily stuck with his lineup and endured three shutout losses in six days. After the
final loss of that stretch, Berhalter took the blame for his players’ fatigue. Now as the Crew
began a full week of training yesterday at its facility in Obetz, Berhalter said things will be
different this time.

May 24, 2014

Some unfortunate mental math helped to make sure the Crew would be without its top playmaker
next weekend at Toronto FC.

Crew designated player Federico Higuain earned a yellow card for stepping in front of a Chicago
free kick in an eventual 2-0 win. Higuain entered the game one yellow shy of a one-game suspension
for accumulation, but afterward said he thought he still had another to give.

May 24, 2014

It’s been a rough couple of days for Michael Parkhurst, but that doesn’t cut him much slack
inside the Crew locker room.

Moments after the former United States World Cup hopeful had played the final three minutes plus
stoppage time of tonight’s 2-0 win against Chicago, Parkhurst was surrounded by reporters at his
locker inside Crew Stadium as Steve Clark entered the locker room. The blue-clad goalkeeper sized
up the situation and began to shout over the commotion – jokingly – that Parkhurst had played a
mere six minutes in the win.

May 23, 2014

“If you’re not really noticed, that’s a good thing because you didn’t do anything glaringly
wrong,” Barson said after yesterday’s training session at Crew Stadium.

As the Crew prepares for Saturday’s home game against Chicago, the defense is working to
increase some of its anonymity after surrendering three goals in last weekend’s road draw against
Portland. Against the Timbers, the Crew replaced two starters who were away on World Cup duty.
Against the Fire, that number might increase to three with Giancarlo Gonzalez joining Waylon
Francis on World Cup duty and Michael Parkhurst’s status uncertain after being cut from United
States team camp.

May 22, 2014

Michael Parkhurst is not going to Brazil. That much has been decided for him.

Whether he plays for the Crew on Saturday night against Chicago is up to him. After the Crew
defender and captain was left off the United States’ 2014 World Cup roster today, coach Gregg
Berhalter said Parkhurst’s status for the game against the Fire will be his call.

May 22, 2014

Crew defender and captain Michael Parkhurst is one of the seven players not to make the final
United States World Cup roster.

Parkhurst was one of 30 players called to camp in California. Today, U.S. Soccer announced the
23-man roster it will take to Brazil for this year's World Cup -- a roster that stunningly includes
18-year-old Julian Green but not Landon Donovan.

May 22, 2014

Ask a Crew fan who the team’s primary rival is and you’re liable to get a few different answers.
The Crew plays Toronto FC for the Trillium Cup, but Chicago and D.C. United also quickly enter the
conversation.

First-year Crew coach Gregg Berhalter is preparing to face the Fire for the first time this
weekend. Today after the Crew’s training session at Crew Stadium, he agreed with the premise that
the Crew has multiple rivals.

May 20, 2014

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio – In two seasons with the Crew, Aaron Schoenfeld has
struggled to find consistent playing time while battling injuries and ineffectiveness. But now on
loan with USL Pro affiliate Dayton, the forward has been scoring goals and getting consistent
minutes.

After generating several chances but failing to find the net against the Crew in a friendly
played on Dayton’s home field of Dayton Outpatient Center Stadium at West Carrollton High school,
Schoenfeld said he felt good about his performance.

“On a different day I think maybe I score a goal or two,” he said. “It was just nice to play
against my team. It was a cool experience.”